8 months ago
Share
Call it fisherman's revenge. John Higman, who has fished the tournament for eight years, led the competition last year on the second day with a 7.81-pound catch, but was edged out on Sunday last year by Duke Gunnell, who caught an 8.14-pounder just a couple of hours before the tournament ended.
This year Higman edged out Danny Sheeks of Stuttgart who had held the lead since Friday with a 7.16-pound bass.
This year marks the first year that the $100,000 grand prize fish has been caught in Pool 1 (Fort Smith). Pool 2 (Dardanelle) and Pool 5 (Dumas) normally showcase the biggest fish.
Higman caught the winner this year on a 10-inch blue worm right off the river channel near Clear Creek Park at Fort Smith.
"I always fish off the bottom," Higman said. "I got him on the down fall. The fish hit hard, but I barely hooked him."
However, it was enough to get the fish in the boat, and this year it's really paying off. Higman, 36, was fishing with his dad, Jesse, so he also won the $1,000 Willow Leaf Award that goes to the parent and child, or grandparent and grandchild, fishing together and weighing the largest bass.
A total of 1,998 fishermen battled extreme heat to vie for $208,500 in total prize money during the three-day tournament.
It paid off for Higman and those fishermen who will share $90,000 in total hourly prize money. An additional $17,500 was paid to fishermen in bonus money for wearing this year's Big Bass T-shirt and hat and in early-bird registration awards.
Fishermen with the largest catches in Pools 2 through 5 were:
Pool 2 - David Snow of Subiaco (7.15 pounds)
Pool 3 - Dan Piper of Little Rock (5.43 pounds)
Pool 4 ¬- Aaron Davis of Pine Bluff (5.41 pounds)
Pool 5 - Danny Sheeks of Stuttgart (7.16 pounds)
The tournament spans more than 300 miles of eligible fishing waters on the Arkansas River inside the state's borders. For complete results, visit www.arkansasbigbass.com.
